A look back at this week in Breakers news

(Dec. 12, 2014) - As the midpoint of December nears, the Boston Breakers remain active both on and off the field, and this week a handful of players were involved in various competitions. And those tournaments continue this weekend and well into next week.

(Dec. 12, 2014) - As the midpoint of December nears, the Boston Breakers remain active both on and off the field, and this week a handful of players were involved in various competitions. And those tournaments continue this weekend and well into next week.

Down in Brazil, Breakers goalkeeper and 2014 National Women’s Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year Alyssa Naeher is training with the U.S. Women’s National Team, preparing for the two-week International Tournament of Brasilia/Torneio Internacional de Brasilia.

Both teams kicked off the tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The U.S. played China PR to a 1-1 draw in the first game. Carli Lloyd put the U.S. ahead, 1-0, in the 23rd minute. China countered in the second half, scoring in the 67th minute on a goal by Han Peng. Naeher did not see action in the match. The U.S. still holds a comfortable series advantage over China, having won 32, drawn 13 times, and suffering just eight losses.

Later Wednesday evening, Andressa Alves and Brazil opened the tournament with a commanding, 4-0 win over Argentina. Andressa Alves played all 90 minutes in the match. Sunday, Dec. 14, the U.S. and Brazil play in the second game of the tournament. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m. ET. The U.S. and Brazil round out the group stage with matches against Argentina (Dec. 17, 4:20 p.m. ET) and China PR (7 p.m. ET), respectively.

Andressa Alves

The top two teams in group play advance to the championship match, which is scheduled for Dec. 21, at 4 p.m. ET. The third- and fourth-place teams in the group stage play in the third-place match on Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. ET.

Also on the U.S. roster for the tournament in Brazil is UCLA senior midfielder Sam Mewis. The NSCAA First-Team All-American and 2014 Pac-12 Player of the Year, who also is one of three finalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy, played for the Boston Breakers College Academy team in the summer of 2014.

Sam Mewis (Photo Courtesy UCLA Athletics)

Speaking of the Mewis’s, Breakers midfielder Kristie Mewis is still in Japan, playing for Iga FC Kunoichi. “The Ninjas” beat JEF United, 4-0, in the second round of the 36th Empress Cup last weekend. Mewis scored two goals for Iga. With the win, The Ninjas advanced to the third round to play Saitama. That match is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, at 9 p.m. ET. Iga and Saitama are no strangers, having played each other this season in the Nadeshiko League.

Kristie Mewis puts a shot on frame in last week's win for Iga FC Kunoichi

If Mewis and Iga beat Saitama, they advance to the Dec. 21 quarterfinals to face the winner of Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies vs. Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara. The winner in the quarterfinals moves on to the Dec. 28 semifinals. The Empress Cup final is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2015. Iga is seeking its third Empress Cup title. Iga won in 2001 and in 1998, when the club was named Prima Ham FC Kunoichi.

The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup draw was held last Saturday in Ottawa. The draw played out like this: Group A: Canada, China, New Zealand, Netherlands; Group B: Germany, Ivory Coast, Norway, Thailand: Group C: Japan, Switzerland, Cameroon, Ecuador; Group D: U.S., Australia, Sweden, Nigeria; Group E: Brazil, Korea Republic, Spain, Costa Rica; and Group F: France, England, Colombia, Mexico. The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup begins June 6 and runs through July 5.

Also this week ... Breakers defender Cat Whitehill took part in Globe Santa, serving as celebrity bell ringer at Quincy Market on Thursday. Check out some photos from the event here ... Breakers midfielder Courtney Jones did an interview with football.com, which you can read here.

The Breakers currently have two great ticket promotions underway. The first is the 25 Days of Christmas. If you purchase or renew your season tickets on any given day, you are entered to win that day’s prize. If you do not win on that day, your name is eligible to be drawn each day through the end of the promotion (Dec. 25). There are some incredible prizes. Find out all the information here: http://bostonbreakerssoccer.com/home/848742.html.

The second promotion is the Holiday Pack. For $90, you get tickets to three (3) home games and a Breakers scarf. Call 617-945-1704 or visit www.breakerstickets.com to purchase tickets for either promotion.

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